Starting mechanism for gas-engines.



L. B. DOMAN.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR GAS ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24, 1914.

1 1 8 2,53 1 Patented Mil-y 9, 1916.

/40enfar 4451/26 5 s 65 mm? flwt L. B. DOMAN.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR GAS'ENGWES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1914.

1,182,531. Patented May 9, 1916.

a 3 SHEETSSHEET 3- @uew/ar t%/we5.se5: d wl s apan? '1? C? a W LEWIS B. DOMAN,

S FATE OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

@FFICE.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR GAS-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 24, 1914. Serial No. 834,073.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Lnwrs B. DOMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Starting Mechanism for Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to starting devices for internal combustion engines such as are used in self-propelled vehicles as an automobile, and the objects of my invention, among other things, are to provide a device of simple and reliable construction at a reasonable cost, of comparatively light weight, and of practically unlimited capacity.

Other systems for self-starting with which I am familiar rely on some source of stored energy, such as compressed air, a motor controlled by a coiled spring, or a storage battery, all of which receive their energy from the main motor that propels the Vehicle while it is running.

By my invention, I have an unlimited source of energy for the initial starting of the gas engine so long as the tank is supplied by gasolene, and I employ the same source of electrical energy as is used for the vehicle motor itself, and I further employ the heated exhaust gases from my starting motor to warm the carbureters or manifolds of the main engine so that the latter may be heated sufiiciently to get them into an easy firing condition.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the parts to be hereinafter de scribed and claimed, and to the end that the invention may be fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an automobile motor illustrating the application of the starter. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken longitudinally of the driving shaft of the starting motor, showing the starting clutch and means for putting the starting motor in action. Fig. 3 is an end view, looking from the left in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional end view of clutch, the section being taken on a line el l in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the intermediate power transmitting device which is operated by starting motor and which is connected to the crank-shaft of the main motor. Fig. 6 is an end view thereof looking from the right in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional end view looking from the right in Fig. 5, the section being taken on a line 7-7 in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic layout of the ignition circuit for the starting motor.

Similar numerals designate similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

My invention may be employed in any of the various types of internal combustion engines, either stationary or portable, the drawings showing it applied to the engine 1 of an automobile shown in Fig. 1, said engine being mounted in the frame 2. The dash-board of the automobile is indicated by 3, and 4: is the intake manifold through which the necessary'mixture of gas and air are conveyed from the carbureter 5 and fed to the engine 1.

My device to start the engine motor 1 consists of an auxiliary starting motor 6 which is connected to the crank shaft 7 of the motor 1 by a sprocket-chain 8 as shown in Fig. 1. I

The auxiliary motor 6 is started from the seat of the automobile by pulling outwardly through the dash-board 3, the metallic slide 9 which has a handle for the operator suitably arranged for this purpose. The slide 9 is carried by the bracket 10 through which it passes, and the inner end of the slide 9 is connected to a drum 11 on the crank-shaft 12 of the auxiliary motor 6 by a cable 13, as is shown in Fig. 1. The drum 11 is divided into two sections 14 and 1 5, the cable 13 being wound around the section 15, while the section 14 carries an oppositely Wound cable 16 attached to a spring 17 shown in Fig. 1. This spring 17 serves to wind up the cable 13 after it has been unwound by the pulling out of the slide 9 in order to start the auxiliary motor 6. When the slide 9 is pulled outwardly the drum 11 will be rotated upon the shaft 12 of the auxiliary motor 6, the drum being loosely mounted upon said shaft. However, the drum 11 has secured to it a ratchet 20, engaging a pawl 18, carried by the fly-wheel 21, secured to the shaft 12. The spring 19 normally keeps the pawl 18 in operative engagement with the ratchet 20, so that the rotation of this drum will cause the fly-wheel 21 to revolve to turn the crankshaft 12.

When the drum 11 is rotated by the pulling out of the slide 9, as hereinbeforedescribed, in the direction of the arrow 22 Patented May 9, 1916.

(Fig. 3), the fly-wheel 21 and the shaft 12 will rotate in the same direction. The drum 11 is sufficiently large to cause the shaft 12 to make several revolutions whereby the auxiliary motor 6 will start. After this m0- tor 6 has gained a little speed the pawl 18 will fly out of engagement with the ratchet 20 through centrifugal force. The high speed of the motor 6 will cause the governors, or weighted bell-cranks 23, which are shown in Figs. 2 and 4, to fly outwardly through centrifugal force, thereby forcing the clutch-drum 24 to engage the clutch-cup 25. The clutch-drum 24 is carried by a disk 26 rigidly secured to the auxiliary motor shaft 12. The drum 24 carries pins 27 which pass loosely through the disk 26 against which the bell-crank levers 23 bear. When the weights 28 fly outwardly, through the action of centrifugal force, the pins 27 and the clutch-drum 24 will be moved laterally into close operative contact with the clutch-cup 25. The clutch-cup 25 isloose upon the shaft 12 and carries a pinion 29 meshing with the gear 30 loosely mounted upon a stub-shaft 31, as shown in Fig. 5, which is mounted in the casing of the motor 6. The loose gear 30 carries a ratchet gear 32 which engages a pawl 33 supported in a rotatable casing 34. The casing 34 is loosely carried upon the shaft 31 and has secured to it the sprocket gear 35 which operates the chain 8.

After the auxiliary motor 6 has been started the clutch-cup 25 will revolve as described, thereby rotating the gear 30 and causing the pawl 33 on the casing 34 to rotate the sprocket 35 which in turn will cause the large motor 1 to operate by means of the chain 8. After the large motor 1 has gained suflicient speed, the pawl 33 will over-run the ratchet gear 32. A spring 36 secured to the casing 34 normally keeps the pawl 33 and the ratchet 32 in engagement.

When the slide 9 is pulled out, a circuit for the timer 37 of the motor6 is completed, that is to say, when the contact 38 touches the metal of the slide 9 an electrical current will pass from the battery or generator 39, through the wires 40 and 41 and primary coil 42. As soon as the roller 43 of the timer 37 touches the contact 44, a circuit for the spark-plug 36 will be established and the explosive charge in the auxiliary motor 6 will fire. This motor 6 will then run as long as the contact 38 and the slide 9 touch each other, but will stop as soon as the slide 9 is pulled back and the electrical contact broken. When this slide 9 is released the spring 17 shown in Fig. 1 will rewind the cable 13 onthe drum 11. Under normal conditions, that is to say, when the a'uxiliar'y-motor 6 is not running, the contact 38 will remain in touch with the insulated portion 45 of the slide 9, and that particular circuit, in fact all of the circuits, will not be energized.

To facilitate the starting of the main motor 1, I surroundthe carbureter 5 with a jacket 45 and convey the heated exhaust gases from the starting motor 6 to the jacket 45 through the pipe 46, and out through the pipe 47 to the muffler, if desired. To prevent short circuiting, I divide the cable 13 into two parts and connect same by an insulated coupling 48.

The fuel tank is indicated at 49.

- This mechanism is particularly applicable for use with motor cars and secures a ready and convenient means of starting the engine without cranking and without moving from the seat; it is simple in construction and arrangement and highly efficient in operation; and it can be used with no loss of efficiency, as long as there is fuel in the tank.' Many motor vehicles are now constructed to use kerosene and low-grade fuels and are provided with auxiliary gasolene tanks and carbureters to supply heat to vaporize such low-grade oils. By my mechanism the auxiliary motor provides the required heat and the extra gasolene tank and carbureter are dispensed with. Its operation, it is believed, will be thoroughly understood without further description.

What I claim as new is 1. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel and a clutching device, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to rotate such flywheel, and means comprising a springpressed pawl and ratchet device to engage said clutching device on said auxiliary motor shaft with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter.

2. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel and a clutching device, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to rotate such flywheel and to operate the ignition device, and means comprising a spring-pressed pawl and ratchet device to engage said clutching device on said auxiliary motor shaft with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter.

3. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel and a clutching device, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to rotate such fly-wheel, and a clutching device comprising a springpressed pawl andratchet device to engage said clutching device on said auxiliary motor shaft with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter.

4. lin a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel and 'a clutching device, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to rotate such flywheel and to operate the ignition device, and a clutching device comprising a springpressed pawl and ratchet device to engage said clutching device on said auxiliary motor shaft with said. main engine shaft to ro tate the latter.

5. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel and a clutching device, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means simultaneously to revolve said fly-Wheel and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, and means comprising a spring-pressed pawl and ratchet device to engage said clutching device on said auxiliary motor shaft with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter.

6. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel and a clutching device, a drum loosely mounted on said auxiliary motor shaft, means to connect said drum with said fly-wheel, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to revolve said drum and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, and means comprising a spring-pressed pawl and ratchet device to engage said clutching device on said auxiliary motor shaft with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter.

7. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to revolve said fly-wheel and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, a clutch secured to said auxiliary motor shaft, and .means comprising a springpressed pawl and ratchet device to rotatively engage said clutch with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter.

8. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-vvheel, a drum loosely mounted on said auxiliary motor shaft,

means to connect said drum with said flywheel, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to revolve said drum and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, a clutch secured to said auxiliary motor shaft, and means com prising a spring pressed pawl and ratchet device to rotatively engage said clutch with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter.

9. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel and a clutching device, a drum loosely mounted on said auxiliary motor shaft, a spring-pressed pawl and ratchet device to connect said drum with said fly-wheel, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, manipulating means to revolve said drum and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, and means comprising a spring-pressed pawl and ratchet device to engage said clutching device on said auxiliary motor shaft with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter.

10. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel, a drum loosely mounted on said auxiliary motor shaft, a springpressed pawl and ratchet device to connect said drum with said fly-wheel, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, manipulating means to revolve said drum and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, a clutch secured to said auxiliary motor shaft, and means comprising a spring-pressed pawl and ratchet device .to rotatively engage said clutch with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter.

11. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel and a clutching device, a drum loosely mounted on said auxiliary motor shaft, means to connect said drum with said fly-wheel, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means simultaneouslyto revolve said drum and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, and means comprising a springpressed pawl and ratchet device to engage said clutching device on said auxiliary motor shaft with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter.

12. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fiy-wheel, a drum loosely mounted on said auxiliary motor shaft, means to connect said drum with said fly-wheel, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means simultaneously to revolve said drum and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, a clutch secured to said auxiliary motor shaft, and means comprising a spring-pressed pawl and ratchet device to rotatively engage said clutch with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter.

13. In a starting mechanism for gasengines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel and a clutching device, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to revolve said fly-Wheel and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, means to engage said clutching device on said auxiliary motor shaft with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter, a carbureter for the main gas engine and means to convey the exhaust of the auxiliary motor to heat the carbureter of the gas engine.

14. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fiy-wheel and a clutching device, a drum loosely mounted on said auxiliary motor shaft, means to connect said drum with said fiy-wheel, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to revolve said drum and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, a clutching device to engage said clutching device on said auxiliary motor shaft with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter, a carbureter for the main gas engine and means to convey the exhaust of the auxiliary motor to heat the carbureter of the gas engine.

15. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel and a starting device, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to rotate such fly-wheel, means comprising a spring-pressed pawl and ratchet device to engage said clutching device on said auxiliary motor shaft with said main engine shaft, a carbureter for the main gas engine and means to convey the exhaust of the auxiliary motor to heat the carbureter of the gas engine.

16. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel and a clutching device, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to rotate such fly-wheel, a clutching device comprising a springpressed pawl and ratchet device to engage said clutching device on said auxiliary motor shaft with said main engine shaft, a

carbureter for the main gas engine and means to convey the exhaust of the auxiliary motor to heat the carbureter of the gas engine.

17. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main en ine shaft of the gas engine of an auxiliarfy starting motor having attached to its sha t a rotatable fly-wheel, a drum loosely mounted onsaid auxiliary motor shaft, means to connect said drum with said fly-wheel, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to revolve said drum and to operate said" ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, a clutching device, comprising a spring-pressed pawl and ratchet device, to engage said auxiliary motor shaft with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter, a carbureter for the main gas engine and means to convey the exhaust of the auxiliary motor to heat the carbureter of the gas engine.

18. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to revolve said fly-wheel and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, a clutch secured to said auxiliary motor shaft, means comprising a spring pressed pawl and ratchet device to rotatively engage said clutch' with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter, a carbureter for the main gas engine and means to convey the exhaust of the auxiliary motor to heat the carbureter of the gas engine.

19. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel, a drum loosely mounted on said auxiliary motor shaft, means to connect said drum with said fly-wheel, an electric -.ignition device for said auxiliary motor, means to revolve said drum and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, a clutch secured to said auxiliary motor shaft, means comprising a spring pressed pawl and ratchet device to rotatively engage said clutch with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter, a carbureter for the main gas engine and means to convey the exhaust of the auxiliary motor to heat the carbureter of the gas engine.

20. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main engine shaft of the gas engine, of an auxiliary starting motor having attached to its shaft a rotatable fly-wheel, a drum loosely mounted on said auxiliary motor shaft, a springpressed pawl and ratchet device to connect said drum with said fly-wheel, an electric ignition device for said auxiliary motor,

manipulating means to revolve said drum and to operate said ignition device to start said auxiliary motor, a clutch secured to said auxiliary motor shaft, means compr1s ing a spring-pressed pawl and ratchet device to rotatively engage said clutch with said main engine shaft to rotate the latter, a carbureter for the main gas engine and means to convey the exhaust of the auxiliary motor to heat the carbureter of the gas engine.

21. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination withthe main shaft of the gas engine, of a starting motor, connecting means for said shaft and said motor normally disconnected comprising a shiftable, rotatable clutch member, an electric ignition device for said motor, means to start said motor and operate said ignition device, means operable by said motor to maintain said connecting means in operative position, and means to cut out said ignition device and stop said motor.

22. In a starting mechanism for gas en g nes, the combination with the main shaft of the gas engine, of a starting motor, con

necting means for said shaft and said motor normally disconnected comprising a shiftable, a rotatable clutch member, an electric ignition device for said motor, means to start said motor and operate said ignition device, means operable by said motor to maintain said connecting means in operative position, and automatiomeans, potentiated by said motor-starting means, to cut out said ignition device and stop said motor.

23. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main shaft of the gas engine, of a starting motor, connecting means for said shaft and said motor normally disconnected comprising a shiftable, rotatable clutch member, an electric ignition device for said motor, means to start said motor and operate said ignition device, means comprising a spring pressed pawl and ratchet device operable by said motor to maintain said clutching means in operative position, and means to cut out said ignition device and stop said motor.

24. In a starting mechanism for gas engines,.the combination with the main shaft of the gas engine, of a starting motor, connecting means for said shaft and said motor normally disconnected comprising a shiftable, rotatable clutch member, an electric ignition device for said motor, means to start said motor and operate said ignition device, means comprising a spring pressed pawl and ratchet device operable by said motor to maintain said clutching means in operative position, and automatic means,

potentiated by said motor-starting means,

to cut out said ignition device and stop said shaft and the other with the motor, the latter being disconnected when the engine is at rest, an electric ignition device for said m0- tor, means tostart said motor and operate said ignition device, means operable by said motor to maintain said clutch members in operative position, and means to cut out said ignition device and stop said motor.

26. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main shaft of the gas engine, of a starting motor, two clutch members, one connected with the shaft and the other with the motor, the latter being disconnected when the engine is at rest, an electric ignition device for said motor, means to start said motor and operate said ignition device, means operable by said motor to maintain said clutch members in operative position, and automatic means, potentiated by said motor-starting means, to cut out said ignition device and stop said motor.

27. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main shaft of the gas engine, of a starting motor, two clutch members, one connected with the shaft and the other with the motor, the latter being disconnected when the engine is at rest, an electric ignition device for said motor, means to start said motor and operate said ignition device, means comprising a spring pressed pawl and ratchet device operable by said motor to maintain said clutch members in operative position, and means to cut out said ignition device and stop said motor.

28. In a starting mechanism for gas engines, the combination with the main shaft of the gas engine, of a starting motor, two clutch members, one connected with the shaft and the other with the motor, the latter being disconnected when the engine is at rest, an electric ignition device for said motor, means to start said motor and operate said ignition device, means comprising a spring pressed pawl and ratchet device operable by said motor to maintain said clutch members in operative position, and automatic means, potentiated by said motorstarting means, to cut out said ignition device and stop said motor.

LEWIS B. DOMAN.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. WADE, MARGARET M. BROWN. 

